BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: Jacqueline and I saw a Braves-Cubs game on September 2, 2001.

Turner Field is unique in having been built originally for non-baseball purposes (in this case, the 1996 Summer Olympic Games) and yet ended up as a first-class baseball stadium. Of course, it was planned that way from the beginning. Anyone who was watching the 1996 Olympics could note that one corner of the stadium (where home plate is now) was more sharply angled and further from the track than the others. About 30,000 seats were removed after the Olympics were over, and the bleacher sections and peripheral buildings in the plaza area were built in time for the 1997 baseball season. Twenty-two concrete pillars that used to support the perimeter of the single-deck grandstand beyond present-day left field remain in place, arranged in a vast semi-circle as a relic of the 1996 Olympics. They mark the extent of the original stadium "footprint," dividing the entry plaza from the curved street. (Hence the outline of the original stadium in the diagram above.)

The playing field is about 25 feet below ground level, like most other newer ballparks. As for the field dimensions, Turner Field is rather ordinary, and in fact differs relatively little from its symmetrical circular predecessor, Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The right field fence angles away so that right center is one of the deepest in the major leagues, which is good for triples, but the rest of the fence is one big curve. In that respect, it is unique among the neoclassical "retro" ballparks. In terms of the grandstand configuration, the way the upper deck wraps around the right field corner bears some resemblance to Jacobs Field. The upper deck on the third base side is truncated, however, creating a more open "atmosphere" than most others in its class. There is a five-foot gap between the fence and the bleachers, to prevent fans from interfering with near-home runs, which takes away some of the fun. There is a plot of grass turf behind the center field fence; the grass is used to repair damaged areas of the playing field.

From the fans' perspective, there are fewer luxury skyboxes than in most of the newer stadiums are found only in the left field second level, in back of the bleachers. The press boxes are in two levels that replace the mezzanine deck behind home plate; most newer stadiums have a similar press box configuration. Since Atlanta is the world headquarters for Coca Cola, there are large "Coke bottles" mounted like artillery guns in the kids play area on the narrow roof area overlooking the left field corner. There is also a large "Coke bottle" in that area that shoots huge Roman candle displays whenever the Braves hit a home run. The entrance plaza behind center field is full of statues and memorabilia, and soon you are confronted by a wide array of amusements, shops, pubs, and eateries, mostly catering to the non-budget conscious. The now-famous "Braves Chophouse" overlooks right field, and the upscale "755 Club" restaurant overlooks left field. There are evidently few if any restaurants or watering holes in the surrounding neighborhood, so you're pretty much stuck with what's available inside the stadium complex. Those new fan amenities are typical of most new baseball stadiums. Fans with slim wallets can take advantage of the cheap "Skyline" section at the far ends of the upper deck, on both the third base and right field sides.

CINEMA: Turner Field appeared in the movie Trouble With the Curve (2012).

Turner Field was one of the most successful neoclassical stadiums in terms of generating fan enthusiasm and attendance, though that has slacked off a bit in recent years. Like most other early-phase neoclassical stadiums, the capacity is probably a few thousand too high relative to the city's population. (It has been reduced slightly from the original 50,091 to 49,586.) Prior to the 2005 season a newer, much bigger video board was installed. In 2008, a new section of seats (the "Suntrust Club") was installed between the dugouts, reducing the backstop distance to an absurdly close 43 feet. Behind the 143 new seats is an exclusive new lounge full of posh amenities for fat cats in Atlanta.

The Braves continued their winning ways in the new stadium: They were champions of the National League Eastern Division in every year from 1995 through 2005. They had a hard time making it any farther in the playoffs, however. The departure or retirement of their phenomenal pitching trio (Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz) left the team without its formerly-dominant competitive edge. The rise of new stars such as catcher Brian McCann has brought the Braves back to the upper tier of the standings, earning a wild card slot in 2010 and 2012. Even though aging slugger Chipper Jones retired after the 2012 season, the Braves surpised everyone by taking the NL Eastern Division by a wide margin in 2013.

To the surprise of many, the Braves failed to agree to terms with the city of Atlanta for funding desired renovations on Turner Field. Since the lease expires after the 2016 season, the Braves decided to build a new stadium in the northern suburbs of Atlanta. In September 2014, there was a groundbreaking ceremony for the future "home of the Braves": SunTrust Park. (See MLB.com.) Turner Field will have lasted a mere 20 years as a Major League Baseball venue, barely half as long as the Braves' tenure in Braves Field (1915-1952).

In December 2015 it was announced that, after the Braves leave, Turner Field will be converted into a football stadium, to be the new home of Georgia State University. It marks another radical transformation of what was originally called "Olympic Stadium": the first such change occurred in 1997 and the second occurred in 2017.

Turner Field:Chronology of diagram updates

NOTE: The diagram thumbnails have been continually replaced since 2008, so the images seen in the older blog posts do not reflect how the full-size diagrams looked at that time. Roll your mouse over the adjacent thumbnail to see a pre-2008 version.

Vox populi: Fans' impressions

Have you been to this stadium? If so, feel free to share your impressions of it with other fans! (Registration is required.) Also, I welcome submissions of original stadium photos that fans have taken, and will make sure they get properly credited. Just send me an e-mail message via the Contact page.